Reach Resources (ASX:RR1) is planning to submit its Murchison South mining proposal in November and is awaiting step-out drilling results after grade control drilling validated its NW Pit model.
The company has received final assays from the last 40 holes drilled at its Murchison South Gold Project near Paynes Find, Western Australia.
The results complete a 163-hole reverse circulation program covering about 4,236m across the first five proposed mining benches.
Hole 26MSGC0127 returned 9m @ 4.7 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 6m, including 2m @ 18.5g/t Au. Hole 26MSGC0120 returned 15m @ 1.9g/t Au from 8m, in a zone previously modelled as ‘low grade’.
Five consecutive holes along a single grade control line, from 26MSGC0125 to 26MSGC0129, intersected significant mineralisation from at or near surface.
Across the program, 13 holes returned intervals above 5g/t Au and five exceeded 10g/t Au, peaking at 2m @ 24.6g/t Au in hole 26MSGC0091.
Reach tightened the drill spacing from about 20m by 20m to 10m by 10m. The company says the closer grid better defined the ‘nuggety’ quartz-vein-hosted mineralisation, with some zones returning ‘higher grades’ and greater widths than modelled.
Some intercepts sit outside the current mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 844,000 tonnes @ 3g/t Au for 80,000 ounces of Au.
Grade control sharpens NW Pit model
The drilling program was completed to inform mining by SMS Mining, a subsidiary of Andel Resources, under the binding right to mine agreement announced on 18 August.
Andel and SMS will use the data to finalise short-term scheduling ahead of proposed first ore production.
CEO Jeremy Bower says that the successful validation of the NW Pit model provides a blueprint for the next phase of development at Murchison South.
“This validation gives us real confidence that we can repeat this outcome as we work with Andel to plan similar works at our Central and South pits ahead of mining scheduled for 2027,” Bower adds.
Mining leases M59/790, 786, and 799 remain undrilled. Reach is also awaiting results from the 2,000m resource step-out program completed in September.
Reach Resources is an Australian gold developer fast-tracking the fully funded Murchison South project toward production, backed by critical mineral exploration assets in WA and an equity investment in US rare earth recycling.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Reach Resources
